Amino acid analysis of feedstuff hydrolysates by cation exchange high performance liquid chromatography

Corn, peanut meal, and soybean meal samples were either untreated or oxidized with performic acid before hydrolysis; the amino acids were determined by cation exchange high performance liquid chromatography (LC) and conventional cation exchange LC using an amino acid analyzer (AAA). Reproducibility of each procedure was assessed by repeated injections of the same calibration standard solution over a period of several days. LC data were more precise with regard to coefficients of variation for amino acid retention times, but were more variable with regard to peak areas. Although some significant differences between methods were noted, feedstuff amino acid values obtained by LC and AAA compared very well. The only consistent differences observed within each feedstuff were that Phe and Tyr values were significantly lower when analyzed by LC compared with AAA. Results of this study suggest that modular LC instrumentation can be used to accurately and reproducibly analyze amino acids in feedstuff hydrolysates. Advantages of using ninhydrin derivatization for feedstuff analysis, as opposed to using o-phthalaldehyde or dansyl chloride, are discussed.     

Complete amino acid analysis in hydrolysates of foods and feces by liquid chromatography of precolumn phenylisothiocyanate derivatives

The amino acid analysis method using precolumn phenylisothiocyanate (PITC) derivatization and liquid chromatography was modified for accurate determination of methionine (as methionine sulfone), cysteine/cystine (as cysteic acid), and all other amino acids, except tryptophan, in hydrolyzed samples of foods and feces. A simple liquid chromatographic method (requiring no derivatization) for the determination of tryptophan in alkaline hydrolysates of foods and feces was also developed. Separation of all amino acids by liquid chromatography was completed in 12 min compared with 60-90 min by ion-exchange chromatography. Variation expressed as coefficients of variation (CV) for the determination of most amino acids in the food and feces samples was not more than 4%, which compared favorably with the reproducibility of ion-exchange methods. Data for amino acids and recoveries of amino acid nitrogen obtained by liquid chromatographic methods were also similar to those obtained by conventional ion-exchange procedures.     

Determination of folacin in foods and other biological materials

The objective of most methods for determination of folates in foods and other biological materials is to estimate the total folacin content of the sample. Because folacin comprises a diverse group of related compounds exhibiting similar biological activity, the analytical method must be capable of measuring all of the folates. Methods have been developed for separation of folates in their monoglutamyl form by using anion-exchange, paired-ion reverse phase, or conventional reverse phase liquid chromatography (LC). The application of these separations to determination of folates in foods and other biological materials has been limited largely by the need for development of adequate preparative methods and sufficiently sensitive and specific detection procedures. Although LC with ultraviolet absorption detection has been successful in certain limited applications, the development of fluorometric detection methods has permitted LC determination of folates in a wide range of materials. Tetrahydrofolic acid and its substituted derivatives are detected by monitoring their native fluorescence in an acid mobile phase, while folic acid and certain other folates are measured by using an oxidative post-column fluorogenic derivatization system. Methods also have been developed for determination of the polyglutamyl chain length distribution of folates in biological materials. In total, these procedures permit a direct determination and characterization of folacin compounds.     

Analysis of amino acids by gas chromatography as the N-trifluoroacetyl n-butyl esters

This presentation describes amino acid analysis with the gas chromatographic method and experimental conditions using the N-trifluoroacetyl n-butyl ester derivatives; the study we describe here was undertaken to compare gas chromatographic (GC) and ion-exchange chromatographic (IEC) analyses of amino acids in hydrolysates of 9 diverse sample types to gain insight into effects of these 2 chromatographic methods of analysis on variation in amino acid results. Our study showed that values for samples prepared by 2 separate laboratories using the same procedure were generally in good agreement when all of the hydrolysates were analyzed by a single laboratory using a single method of analysis. To compare results from gas chromatography with those from ion-exchange chromatography analyses were performed by 2 different laboratories on the same hydrolysates and on different hydrolysates prepared by the same method by both laboratories. The data demonstrate that GC and IEC can be expected to yield essentially identical results when applied to the same hydrolysate. Agreement is so close that interlaboratory differences in hydrolysate preparation of the same sample contribute as much to variation in amino acid results as does the method of analysis, a fact which should be noted in planning collaborative studies.     

Reverse-phase liquid chromatographic determination of lysine in complete feeds and premixes, using manual precolumn derivatization

A sample portion is hydrolyzed with 6N HCl for 23 h and cooled, the pH is adjusted to 7.7 with NaOH, and the solution is diluted with pH 7.7 borate buffer. An aliquot of the sample extract is derivatized with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (9-FMC). Lysine is separated from other amino acids by isocratic reverse-phase liquid chromatography (LC) using fluorescence detection: 260 nm excitation and 313 nm emission. The mobile phase is acetonitrile-0.1M acetic acid (pH 4.2) buffer (53 + 47). Linearity is satisfactory over a range of 0.4-24 micrograms/mL. Results from 9 feed samples (1.1-2.7% lysine) analyzed by both the LC method and an amino acid analyzer were not significantly different statistically. Recovery of standard lysine, spiked just before derivatization on these same 9 samples (in duplicate), was 100.9% with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 2.4%. A study of within-day and between-day method precision resulted in CVs of 1.1 and 1.8%, respectively. The variation of results was negligible when the method was tested for ruggedness on 7 factors.     

The automated determination of glucosamine,galactosamine, muramic acid,and mannosamine in soil and root hydrolysates by HPLC

Amino sugars make a significant contribution to soil organic N and are mainly of microbial origin. The most important amino sugars in soil are glucosamine, galactosamine, muramic acid, and mannosamine. A method was developed for the simultaneous determination of these four amino sugars by high‐performance reverse‐phase liquid chromatography in standard solutions, soil and root hydrolysates. Pre‐column derivatization with o‐phthaldialdehyde (OPA) was used in an automated sample injector with thermostatic regulation of the reagent at 4 °C. The separation of the four amino sugars was fully satisfactory and was not disturbed by other fluorescent components in the soil and root hydrolysates.     

Identification and quantitation of sulfamethazine metabolites by liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

Methods for the identification and quantitation of carbon-14 labeled sulfamethazine [4-amino-N-(4,6-dimethyl-2-pyrimidinyl)benzenesulfonamide], N4-acetylsulfamethazine, the N4-glucose conjugate of sulfamethazine, and desaminosulfamethazine in swine tissue are described. Tissues are ground and extracted with methanol, and the 14C-labeled compounds are purified by XAD-2 column chromatography and C-18 reverse phase liquid chromatography (LC) and the 14C-labeled compounds are then methylated and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Quantitation is accomplished by measuring the amount of 14C-activity that cochromatographs (C-18 reverse phase LC) with reference compounds.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of taurine in vitamin premix formulations

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described for the determination of taurine in vitamin and vitamin-mineral premix formulations. The method involves extraction of taurine with 0.1 M bicarbonate buffer, followed by precolumn derivatization with dansyl chloride and LC using fluorescence detection. 6-Aminocaproic acid is used as an internal standard. A reverse phase analytical column and a mobile phase of 0.1 M acetate buffer solution (pH 7.2)-acetonitrile (75 + 25) are used. Vitamins, minerals, and other excipients in the premix formulations do not interfere in the determination. The method is simple, precise, and accurate.     

Determination of neomycin in animal tissues, using ion-pair liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method is described for the determination of neomycin in animal tissues. Tissues are homogenized in 0.2M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 8.0); the homogenate is centrifuged, and the supernate is heated to precipitate the protein. The heat-deproteinated extract is acidified to pH 3.5-4 and directly analyzed by LC. The LC method consists of an ion-pairing mobile phase, a reverse phase ODS column, post-column derivatization with o-phthalaldehyde reagent, and fluorometric detection. The LC method uses paromomycin as an internal standard, and separates neomycin from streptomycin or dihydrostreptomycin because they have different retention times. The LC column separates neomycin in 25 min; the detection limit is about 3.5 ng neomycin. The overall recovery of neomycin from kidney tissues spiked at 1-30 ppm was 96% with a 9.0% coefficient of variation. The method was also applied to muscle tissue.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of aflatoxins in feedstuffs containing citrus pulp

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method was developed for the determination of aflatoxins in feedstuffs containing citrus pulp. The feed-stuff sample is extracted with chloroform, followed by Sep-Pak Florisil cartridge cleanup and Sep-Pak C18 cartridge cleanup. The final eluate (water-acetone, 85 + 15, v/v) is submitted to reverse-phase liquid chromatography with water-methanol-acetonitrile (130 + 70 + 40, v/v/v) as mobile phase and postcolumn derivatization with iodine. Citrus components are removed from the extract efficiently. The limit of detection for aflatoxin B1 is less than 1 microgram/kg. Other aflatoxins can also be detected and measured. Recoveries of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2 for dairy rations spiked at 13, 5, 10, and 4 micrograms/kg were 87, 86, 81, and 82%, respectively. Corresponding coefficients of variation were 3.1, 3.6, 5.2, and 3.8%, respectively.     

Effect of hydrolysis time on the determination of amino acids in samples of soybean products with ion-exchange chromatography or precolumn derivatization with phenyl isothiocyanate

Accurate determination of amino acid levels in soy products facilitates optimum diet formulation and amino acid supplementation. A study was carried out to investigate the effect of hydrolysis time and method of amino acid measurement on amino acid levels. Correction factors to standardize amino acid levels to 24 h of hydrolysis were also determined. Six different soybean products were evaluated. Hydrolysis was carried out for 10 different periods of time. Amino acids were analyzed by both ion-exchange chromatography and precolumn derivatization with phenyl isothiocyanate. Both hydrolysis time and measurement method affected (P < 0.05) amino acid levels. Standard hydrolysis conditions (hydrolysis in 6 M HCl at 110 degrees C for 24 h) rarely provide the maximal amino acid values. Therefore, sequential hydrolyses curves were very useful and should be used.     

Short-chain peptide analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometer after derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate

Resolution and characterization of short-chain peptides (M(r) = 200-1000) and free amino acids were demonstrated by the use of precolumn derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethyl chloroformate (Fmoc) followed by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) interfaced with an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer (ESI-MS). At pH 10, in addition to derivatization at the N terminus, epsilon-NH(2) and OH groups of lysine and tyrosine residues, respectively, were also derivatized. Fmoc derivatives showed at least 2 orders of magnitude higher ionization potential in the presence of trifluoroacetic acid. The detection levels for both the free amino acid and peptide derivatives were in a few hundred picomoles compared to 10-50 nmol for the underivatized samples. The mass spectra of the peptides before or after derivatization showed the presence of only singly charged ions. However, collision-induced dissociation of the derivatized peptides showed predominance of b-type ions that are relatively less complicated in assigning the peptide sequence.     

Determination of fluazifop-butyl and fluazifop acid in soybeans and soybean oil using liquid chromatography with oxidative amperometric detection

A new method is described for the determination of the herbicide fluazifop-butyl, and its metabolite fluazifop acid, in soybeans and soybean oil as fluazifop acid. Liquid chromatography with amperometric detection (LC/AD) is used to determine fluazifop acid produced from the metabolism or base hydrolysis of fluazifop-butyl in soybeans and soybean oil. These foods were spiked with fluazifopbutyl at 0.05, 0.10, and 0.50 ppm and hydrolyzed with 0.2N NaOH in methanol. The hydrolysate (adjusted to pH less than or equal to 1) is extracted with dichloromethane and the extract is washed with 1.0% NaHCO3. The NaHCO3 is acidified to pH less than or equal to 1 and extracted with dichloromethane; the partitioning is repeated 2 more times. The dichloromethane is removed, mobile phase solvent is added, and aliquots are injected onto a PRP-1 liquid chromatographic column; fluazifop acid is separated from coextracted compounds and detected at an applied potential of + 1.25 V, using an amperometric electrochemical detector in the oxidation mode. Recoveries ranged from 69 +/- 6.5 to 101 +/- 18% and from 72 +/- 7.5 to 88 +/- 11% for soybeans and soybean oil, respectively. Accuracy of these recoveries was confirmed by use of 14C-radiolabeled fluazifop-butyl and by liquid scintillation spectrometry of the 14C-fluazifop acid released.     

Rapid quantitative method for simultaneous determination of benzoic acid, sorbic acid, and four parabens in meat and nonmeat products by liquid chromatography

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method for the simultaneous determinations of benzoic acid, sorbic acid, and methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl parabens (methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl-p-hydroxybenzoates) in meat and nonmeat products was developed. Benzoic acid, sorbic acid, and parabens were extracted from meat and nonmeat products with 70% ethanol. After filtration, extracts were analyzed by reverse phase liquid chromatography. Homogeneously ground samples of fresh sausage and hamburger were fortified with benzoic acid, sorbic acid, and each paraben at 5 different concentrations. Average recovery (after discarding outliers) for each preservative at all 5 levels was greater than 95% with a coefficient of variation less than 5%.     

Ultrasensitive determination of jasmonic acid in plant tissues using high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

An ultrasensitive and selective high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the volatile signaling hormone, jasmonic acid, has been developed based on precolumn derivatization with 1,3,5,7-tetramethyl-8-aminozide-difluoroboradiaza-s-indacene (BODIPY-aminozide). The derivatization reaction was carried out at 60 °C for 30 min in the presence of phosphoric acid. The formed jasmonic acid derivative was eluted using a mobile phase of methanol/pH 6.50 ammonium formate buffer/tetrahydrofuran (67:30:3, v/v/v) in 10 min on a C(18) column and detected with fluorescence detection at excitation and emission wavelengths of 495 and 505 nm, respectively. The detection limit (signal-to-noise ratio = 4) reached 1.14 × 10(-10) M or 2.29 fmol per injection (20 μL), which is the lowest of the existing methods. The proposed method has been successfully applied to the direct determination of trace jasmonic acid in the crude extracts of soybean leaves from soybean mosaic virus-infected and normal plants with recoveries of 95-104%.     

Ion-exchange separation of amino acids with postcolumn orthophthalaldehyde detection

Moore's and Stein's classical ion-exchange separation of amino acids remains the standard by which all methods are judged. The adaptation of liquid chromatography (LC) equipment to amino acid analysis was inevitable because microprocessor control of gradients allowed almost infinite variation in gradient shape, producing superior resolution with only 2 buffers. The versatility of LC equipment allowed the instruments to be used for other assays. Adaptation of orthophthalaldehyde (OPA) to amino acid analysis increased detection sensitivity to the picomole range. A method for essential amino acids analysis in mechanically separated red meat and poultry products has been adapted to liquid chromatography using postcolumn hypochlorite oxidation, OPA derivatization, and fluorescence detection. Separation is achieved with 2 sequential concave exponential gradients combining ionic strength and pH increases with halide-containing buffers. Hydroxyproline and proline are detected with increasing sensitivity through the use of 3-mercaptopropionic acid in a stabilized OPA reagent. Sample preparation is a critical part of the method. A defatting procedure removes fat and other nonprotein nitrogenous substances. The hydrolysis procedure is designed to protect tryptophan which can be routinely assayed in hydrolysates with a modified flow program. Corrosion damage to the equipment by halide buffers has brought about a search for alternative methodology.     

Determination of theanine, GABA, and other amino acids in green, oolong, black, and Pu-erh teas with dabsylation and high-performance liquid chromatography

Dabsyl chloride (dimethylaminoazobenzene sulfonyl chloride), a useful chromophoric labeling reagent for amino acids and amines, was developed in this laboratory in 1975. Although several methods have been developed to determine various types of amino acids, a quick and easy method of determining theanine, GABA, and other amino acids has not been developed in one HPLC system. In this paper are analyzed the free amino acid contents of theanine and GABA in different teas (green tea, black tea, oolong tea, Pu-erh tea, and GABA tea) with a dabsylation and reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system coupled with a detector at 425 nm absorbance. Two reverse phase columns, Hypersil GOLD and Zorbax ODS, were used and gave different resolutions of dabsyl amino acids in the gradient elution program. The data suggest that the tea source or the steps of tea-making may contribute to the theanine contents variations. High theanine contents of high-mountain tea were observed in both green tea and oolong tea. Furthermore, the raw (natural fermented) Pu-erh tea contained more theanine than ripe (wet fermented) Pu-erh tea, and the GABA contents in normal teas were generally lower than that in GABA tea.     

Determination of sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate in dry beverage bases by liquid chromatography with post-column ion-pair extraction and absorbance detection

Sodium dioctylsulfosuccinate (DSS) is extracted as an ion pair with methylene blue from finished drinks prepared from dry beverage bases. The complex is quantitatively determined colorimetrically in chloroform-acetone solution by a standard procedure. DSS is specifically identified by analyzing an aliquot of the extract by reverse phase liquid chromatography (LC). The compound is detected by using a simple post-column dynamic extraction system in which DSS is extracted from the aqueous mobile phase into chloroform as a methylene blue ion pair. The chloroform phase passes through the absorbance detector for measurement at 546 nm (filter detector). The absolute detection limit was 5-10 ng DSS, while in beverage bases as low as 0.1 microgram/g was detected. Extraction of the beverage bases with mobile phase followed by filtration and direct LC analysis with the described system was also successful, although not evaluated on a routine basis.     

Capillary gas chromatographic analysis of amino acids by enantiomer labeling

The optical isomers of amino acids can be easily separated by gas chromatography using capillary columns coated with the chiral polysiloxane peptide, Chirasil-Val. Quantitative trace amino acid analysis in complex mixtures such as biological fluids, sea water, or protein hydrolysates can be achieved by enantiomer labeling: The D-amino acid enantiomers, which do not occur naturally, are added to the sample prior to analysis as internal standards. Because the D-enantiomers show the same physical and chemical properties as the natural L-enantiomers, they are ideal standard references. In routine analysis, the derivatization is achieved with a new automated derivatization robot. The D-standard serves as overall internal standard for the whole analytical procedure from sample enrichment to derivatization, chromatography, and response of the detector.     

Optimisation of amino sugar quantification by HPLC in soil and plant hydrolysates

Amino sugars are increasingly used as indicators for the accumulation of microbial residues in soil and plant material. A reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method was improved for the simultaneous determination of muramic acid, mannosamine, glucosamine and galactosamine in soil and plant hydrolysates via ortho-phthaldialdehyde (OPA) pre-column derivatisation and fluorescence detection. The retention time was reduced, and the separation of muramic acid and mannosamine was optimised by modifying the mobile phase. The effects of excitation wavelength, OPA reaction time, tetrahydrofuran concentration and pH value of the mobile phase on the amino sugar separation were tested. Quantification limits were in the range of 0.13 to 0.90 μg ml⁻¹. No interferences exist from amino acids or other primary amines, occurring in soil and plant hydrolysates.